by Frances Dewey, Rome '14

Today we visited Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Campo de Fiori, Piazza Della Minerva, and the Area Sacra. The Area Sacra is the site of four Republican temples. I found it very amusing that the ruins of the Area Sacra are now a cat sanctuary! Interestingly, historians and archaeologists alike believe that the Theater of Pompey, the site of Julius Caesar's murder, was located behind the Area Sacra. I found it so amazing that we were literally standing mere feet away from where many believe the great Julius Caesar was killed. I loved that we later read an excerpt from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, not only because it is a great piece of literature but also because I was assigned the role of Caesar! I really enjoyed the Pantheon as well. I thought it was unbelievable that the Romans were able to build a dome of such magnificence at a time when technology was not advanced. Another highlight of today was when we visited the famous Sant' Eustachio Cafe; funnily enough, the mayor of my hometown, Bill de Blasio, had visited it just three days earlier. I had my first coffee - a granita caffé. It was so delicious! All in all, I had such a great time today and can't wait to visit the Capitoline Museum tomorrow!